Sulforaphane-Producing Lacticaseibacillus paracaseiCCFM1221 Combining Broccoli Seed Extract Improved the Hepatoprotective Effect on Lipopolysaccharide-Treated Mice.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of sulforaphane-producing Lacticaseibacillus paracasei CCFM1221 on the hepatoprotective efficacy of broccoli seed extract (BSE) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice. The results indicate that L. paracasei CCFM1221 exhibits a high metabolic capacity for glucoraphanin. The co-administration of L. paracasei CCFM1221 and BSE could ameliorate liver index, serum biochemical indicators, and hepatic inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and activating the Nrf2 pathway. Compared with BSE alone, the combined intervention significantly suppressed the elevation of alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), interleukin (IL-1β), and MDA levels. Furthermore, the combination of L. paracasei CCFM1221 and BSE enhanced colonic sulforaphane levels from 195.63 ± 29.60 to 265.70 ± 34.29 nmol/g compared with BSE intervention alone. In addition, it elevated the abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria and promoted the growth of sulforaphane-producing bacteria. These findings suggest that probiotics can enhance the activity of natural products, augmenting their pharmacological effects.